A younger generation, known as Gen Z, is changing the online world, just like their predecessors, the Millennials. As Gen Z customers express their different desires, web-based superpowers that were highly popular a few years ago have been replaced by new favorites. An obvious illustration of the continuing alteration of the online space is dating applications, where blind dating apps are attempting to reform how people come across their prospective partners. This week’s lead story dives into how Gen Z is embracing this technology.

In other news

• Soon Airplane Mode won’t be required in the EU. Ever finish a flight only to realize worriedly you forgot to turn airplane mode on? This will no longer be an issue if you’re in the EU. According to Gizmodo, the European Commission has ruled to allow airlines to provide 5G technology on flights. On 5G-equipped flights, passengers will be able to make phone calls, access apps, and stream videos and music. This is in contrast to the slow Wi-Fi available on some flights currently. To achieve this, airlines will route calls, texts, and data through a satellite network connecting the plane to mobile networks on the ground by using special network equipment called ‘pico-cell.’

• Official encryption keys used to approve malicious Android apps. Wired reports that a number of digital certificates used by Android manufacturers to verify an app’s authenticity have been compromised. Approved Android manufacturers, such as Samsung, play a key role in tailoring and securing Android’s OS for their devices. So for their platform certificates to fall into the wrong hands is a worrying development. Malicious actors could potentially use the certificates to change app permissions to do things like collect user passwords and access entire camera rolls. Google has since caught the issue, stating it has not found evidence of malware on the Google Play Store. However, third-party app stores may be affected.

• Killer robots shelved for now. Last week we reported that San Francisco had proposed using robots in police matters, including giving them the ability to use deadly force. This week, after a huge public outcry, the city’s Board of Supervisors backtracked on this plan, according to Wired. After reluctantly voting for the policy, Gordon Mar, a member of the Board, noted, “I’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable with our vote & the precedent it sets for other cities without as strong a commitment to police accountability. I do not think making state violence more remote, distanced, & less human is a step forward.”

• Eadburg was here. Researchers at the Bodleian Library at Oxford discovered the Old English female name Eadburg scratched onto the pages of an eighth-century manuscript. As The Guardian reports, these researchers used new technology to capture 3D images of the surface of the pages of the English manuscript, a Latin copy of the Acts of the Apostles. This discovery is remarkable because it’s the first time the technology has been used to find previously unseen writing. It’s also noteworthy because, as Jessica Hodgkinson, a Ph.D. student University of Leicester, noted, “there are only a limited number of surviving early medieval manuscripts which contain clear internal evidence of a woman having created, owned or used them.” Researchers also found crude tiny drawings tucked away on the pages.

• Electric bikes saving African wildlife. In a new weapon against illegal poaching, rangers are now turning to e-bikes as a way to track and stop poachers in Mozambique’s national parks, Wired reports. Because these bikes are almost silent, anti-poaching teams can now catch poachers in the act. And these efforts have a huge impact on the ecosystems of these parks, saving hundreds of animals, including large numbers of suni, red duikers, and blue duikers, all species of antelopes that serve as food sources for predators such as eagles, leopards, and pythons. As funding becomes available, more parks across the continent may start using them to save endangered rhinos and other species.
• Beware of apps offering quick loans. Nearly 300 different predatory loan apps on the Google Play and Apple App stores had been downloaded by 15 million users before the app stores pulled them. According to The Register, these apps offered great deals on loans but included high-interest rates and hidden fees, and required users to agree to share sensitive personal data, including their text history, photos, contact lists, and more. Security researchers at Lookout discovered the scams, in which cybercriminals behind the apps used this data to extort users, demanding repayment within days or the data would be leaked publicly. Lookout points out that there may be other apps out there with similar practices, and includes more details on the scam as well as ways to protect yourself.

Tip of the week: How to keep up with online trends and reach Gen Z

With the digital revolution in full swing and the average person spending more hours online, keeping up with online trends is essential for staying ahead of the competition. As Gen Z comes of age, it is important to understand their online habits, preferences, and motivations in order to reach them effectively.

If you want to reach and engage with Gen Z, here are some tips to keep in mind.

• Set Google Alerts for unfamiliar trending topics. Stay up to date on online trends. When you hear about a trend or an unfamiliar influencer, set Google Alerts for new stories, and get up to speed.

• Leverage AI and machine learning. Gen Z is comfortable with and interacting with technology. Create AI-driven news feeds on Pocket and Flipboard that follow stories popular with Gen Z, then read the headlines daily to look for trends and patterns.

• Be authentic and transparent. Gen Z will appreciate being given an inside look at your web team or brand. Use visitor surveys to discover what aspects of your company younger people are most curious about.

• Listen to podcasts. Free streaming podcasts are a vast goldmine of Gen Z data because many of them are created by younger people, for younger people. One option is the aptly named Keeping Up With Gen Z, recorded at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Teen Center. Listen to a few episodes, and get first-hand intelligence on Gen Z trends.

The holiday season is finally upon us, and as an e-commerce merchant, you have every reason to be excited. For starters, economists from Deloitte forecast that e-commerce sales will grow by 12.8 to 14.3% this holiday season.

But just as you have prepared your marketing campaigns to take advantage of holiday sales, you need to take steps to protect your store and customers from cybercriminals. Any cyberattack can lead to loss of revenue and valuable data and leave a serious dent in your store’s reputation.

Cyberattacks tend to increase over this period because shoppers are more vulnerable and can easily be dubbed to fall for phishing scams as they look for holiday deals. Making matters worse, some e-commerce business owners, often overwhelmed by sales and marketing, give their website security a backseat.

Learn how you can shield your customers from cyberattacks with six strategies you can adopt to protect your e-commerce site from hackers this holiday season.

1. Get SSL/TLS certificates to encrypt data

When customers sign up to shop in your e-commerce store, they trust you with their most valuable data — from names to addresses to financial information. By taking steps to ensure private data is kept confidential, you will maintain that trust. To reassure your clients of your commitment to protecting their data and privacy, be sure to use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS).

An SSL/TLS certificate is a security protocol that keeps sensitive and personal information protected through encryption. If your e-commerce store lacks this certificate, browsers may warn potential customers from transacting on your platform. Additionally, cybercriminals will also notice vulnerability and could devise ways to exploit you.

2. Encourage the use of two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) is a security method that requires account owners to verify their identity again after logging in using their username and password. Adding 2FA to your site will provide better account security for your users.

After username and password combos, 2FA is a second line of defense that can safeguard user accounts when there is a security breach and their data has been compromised or even when someone guesses their password. It can be used to alert users whenever someone attempts to log in to their accounts, and they can take immediate steps to prevent damage by alerting your store or changing their passwords.

One form of 2FA utilizes SMS as an extra verification layer after users have typed in their name and password. Others require security questions. You can also require an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Duo or other systems.

2FA authentication can help reduce fraudulent transactions, which often occur when scammers access users’ accounts. This will make it more difficult for scammers to log in since they don’t have the account owner’s phone or can’t answer security questions. Two-factor authentication can also show customers that you care about their security and are taking extra steps to keep their accounts safe, making your site more trustworthy.

3. Practice attack surface management

Attack surface management helps prevent data theft, fraud, ransomware, and other threats your site faces. This is the process of continuously monitoring your e-commerce web systems for vulnerabilities to ensure you mitigate potential cybersecurity threats. It allows you to identify any weaknesses within your e-commerce store and gives you time to fix them before cybercriminals can exploit them.

Apart from staying one step ahead of cybercriminals, attack surface management also allows you to:

• Maintain and back up your customer’s data securely
• Consistently patch and update your systems to make your site more secure
• Set parameters that encrypt data and keep your client information private
• Keep an eye on and retire outdated devices, security equipment, and expired services
• Set up authentication protocols and access controls to prevent internal security breaches
• Meet compliance requirements
• Keep payments secure

As the holiday approaches, ensure you have invested in the right attack surface management software and start exploring vulnerabilities. Attackers will likely wait until the peak of the holidays to launch their offenses when you are busy and have let your guard down.

4. Audit access levels

Running almost all websites today requires that you give third-party applications access to your system. You may also grant access to your web developer or other people to update your code and content.

As much as you try to be careful with access to your systems, you need to ensure that you haven’t introduced holes in your website security by performing an access-level audit.

Auditing the access levels allows you to grant and revoke user permissions and control what they can view and the actions they can take. It will enable you to assign specific duties to everyone on your team and allow them access to only what they need. For instance, the data your sales team will need differs from the data your IT team will need. Therefore, you can prevent your IT team from accessing sensitive information or vice versa.

You should also regularly review which apps you’ve granted access to. Are there services (plugins in particular) that you no longer need? Delete anything that is no longer necessary.

Additionally, you can prevent internal cybersecurity threats when you assign specific duties and monitor how your team uses your system. You’ll be able to see who compromised or was used to compromise your systems.

5. Prioritize cybersecurity education

Cybersecurity awareness is one of the best ways to prevent cyberattacks. Cybercriminals often exploit people’s ignorance to meet their goals. By educating your team and customers, you can avoid most of these attacks from happening.

To educate your customers, run a campaign that encourages them to use stronger passwords and not reuse them, and explain how to identify legitimate emails and offers from your store.

You can offer this education by sending emails or writing a blog post. For example, you can share an article on how to avoid falling for phishing scams that can lead to the loss of data or how they can identify legitimate invoices from you. You should look for invoicing templates that come with features such as customization that allow you to differentiate yourself from scammers.

If you have employees, especially non-IT staff, consider reminding them occasionally that they’re vulnerable to phishing as well. Warn them against clicking on suspicious links, using work computers for personal browsing, or failing to update their work devices in time.

6. Remain alert to prevent and deal with cyberattacks

Cybercriminals don’t sleep, and you shouldn’t either if you want to avoid losses and safeguard your store’s reputation. One attack has the potential to expose you to serious monetary losses and legal battles and could run you out of business. Whether you run a big or small e-commerce business, you can’t afford to ignore cybersecurity.

In addition to the tips discussed above, you should also:

1. Back up your data regularly, and refrain from sharing your customers’ personal or financial data with third parties.
2. Report any attacks. Let your customers know when their data has been compromised and immediately inform law enforcement agencies of any cyberattack.
3. Use an additional firewall to protect your site from unauthorized traffic and DDoS attacks.
4. Choose a reliable e-commerce platform that can guarantee your and your customer’s cyber safety.
5. Hire extra hands to keep an eye on your site security and report any mistakes before they get out of hand.

Stay safe — and sleep soundly — this holiday season

All of these tips are pretty simple to implement and can prevent future headaches by preventing the most common website hacking efforts and other security issues. Avoiding downtime and security issues can also save you a lot of time and money.

Be sure to check out our Guru Guide on website security as well as Namecheap’s SSL and other website security options.

WooCommerce has released the latest version, 7.1. It contains 185 commits for WooCommerce Core and 162 for WooCommerce Blocks.

The latest version has several enhancements to help new users start their stores and cart block improvements that help maximize conversions. Moreover, it contains an update to the High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS) feature.

Let’s see the key features introduced with WooCommerce 7.1.

Product Screen Tour

WooCommerce 7.1 adds a product screen guided tour to help new users create their first product. It includes eight guided tasks, like how to add product names, descriptions, images, and tags.

If you want to try the new product screen guided tour, navigate to WooCommerce -> Homechoose Add productsand then Start with a template. Select any template that suits you and click Go.

You can skip the guide by clicking the cross icon at the top-right corner of the guide box. There’s also the Enable guided mode option if you want to re-enable the guide from step one.

Cross-Sells on Cart Block

Cart block in WooCommerce 7.1 has a new cross-sells feature that lets store owners link certain products as cross-sells and link to them from the customer’s cart. This can encourage shoppers to buy more items.

For example, you can add Polo and Long Sleeve Tee as cross-sells for the product Cap. When a shopper adds a Cap to their cart, they will see Polo and Long Sleeve Tee as product recommendations, complete with the Add to cart button.

To add cross-sell recommendations to a product, go to the Products page and choose one. Select Linked products within the Product data section and add the cross-sell products in the Cross-sells field.

Block Patterns

WooCommerce 7.1 includes 12 new block patterns for the header and footer. With them, you’ll be able to easily construct eCommerce-specific header and footer template parts, especially when using a block-based WordPress theme.

The new patterns consist of three header and three footer designs, all available in light and dark versions:

• Large footer
• Simple footer
• Footer with two menus
• Essential header
• Large header
• Minimal header

To see these WooCommerce patterns, open the block inserter panel of the WordPress Site Editor and select Explore from the Patterns tab. Select the WooCommerce option in the sidebar, and you’ll see all available patterns added by the plugin.

High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS) Update

The WooCommerce team has been working on the new High-Performance Order Storage (HPOS) feature, previously known as the Custom Order Tables project. This new version finally introduces HPOS as an experimental addition, making important progress in improving WooCommerce scalability and reliability.

The feature is disabled by default. If you want to enable it, navigate to WooCommerce -> Settings on your WordPress admin panel, open the Advanced tab, and select Features. Check the High-Performance order storage (COT) option under Experimental features.

Because HPOS is still an experimental feature, there may be compatibility issues with other plugins.

Updating the WooCommerce Plugin

Updating plugins is straightforward. However, since your store may contain hundreds of products and continuous online transactions, you must ensure that the update won’t cause an issue on your website.

That’s why we strongly recommend using a staging environment to test the new WooCommerce version. What’s more, back up your WordPress site regularly to ensure its data is safe in case of any errors during the update process.